Tag: agatha-christie

A Theater Review by Julinda D. Lewis 

By: Virginia Repertory Theatre (Virginia Rep) 

At: the November Theatre Arenstein Stage, 114 West Broad St, Richmond VA 23220 

When: September 11 – October 12, 2025 

Ticket Prices: $35-$62   

Info: (804) 282-2620 or www.virginiarep.org 

Train whistles and schedule announcements greet those who enter the November Theatre for the Virginia Rep 2025-26 season opener – Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. An authentic literary and theater murder mystery classic, Murder on the Orient Express has murder, romance, conspiracy, locked doors, humor, nobility, a wide array of accents and dialects, and a dynamic set design worthy of its own program credit. All that was missing was the heady aroma of creosote, brake dust, diesel fuel, and the other components of railroad life. 

Director Rick Hammerly and his talented production team kept enough of the familiar touch stones and the stereotypically drawn murder mystery characters to make us feel right at home, yet balanced these with delightful surprises that never failed to impress.  

First, there was a bit of video, providing some background on the kidnapping of a little girl, Daisy. Then Hercule Poirot (Lawrence Redmond) gave a brief introductory curtain speech. In the brief time it took Redmond to speak, the crew transformed the previously bare space consisting of little more than a fat white screen into a passable representation of luxury hotel dining room. Three-dimensional set elements and two-dimensional projections and lighting effects blended in a collaboration that set new standards. Were those pedestrians moving outside the hotel windows? Or were they crew preparing for the next scene change? Either way, they added depth and nuance to the visual presentation. Kudos to scenic designer Chris Raintree, projection designer Tennessee Dixon, and lighting designer BJ Wilkinson. 

Then, there is the matter of a dynamic actors, all larger than life figures who inhabited the cast of characters with enthusiasm, grace, and humor. Redmond gave us Poirot’s sharp intellect, meticulous, observant. Frank Britton in the role of Poirot’s friend, Monsieur Bouc, the director of the railroad company, played the comedic foil – up to a point. It was his simple perspective that, in the end provided a resolution to the story’s weighty moral dilemma.  

McLean Fletcher portrays Greta Ohlsson as a modest and devout missionary who only wants to help children in Africa, but she is obviously hiding something. And why, exactly, is she posing as an aide to Princess Dragomiroff? Ah yes, Princess Dragomiroff, covered in layers of fine fabrics and jewels and better known to us as the talented Jan Guarino. The Princess’ embroidered handkerchief, is found (planted?) at the scene of the crime in an attempt to mislead the investigation. 

As the snooty but nameless Head Waiter in the first scene, John-Michael Jalonen sets the stage for the opulence and luxury of the other characters, those who are waiting at the hotel to board the luxurious Orient Express on its way from Istanbul, Turkey to London, England. Most of the passengers are traveling in first class compartments and the trip would have taken about four days if the train had not been stranded due to a heavy snowstorm in Yugoslavia. BTW, service on the original Orient Express began in 1883 and ended in 2009, although other companies have stepped in to provide Orient Express travel experiences. But I digress.  

Matt Meixler plays Hector MacQueen, personal assistant to Ratchett/Cassetti, the murder victim. MacQueen is a master of misdirection, but he is the one who reveals Ratchett’s true identity to Poirot. If there was a female lead in Murder on the Orient Express, it would surely be Susan Sanford in the role of the obnoxiously loud, hard drinking, “ugly American” Helen Hubbard. Sanford hits all the stereotypes and mixes them with steroids, making us feel simultaneously horrified and amused by Hubbard’s shenanigans. Hubbard, by the way, has the compartment next to Ratchett/Cassetti, and there is a connecting door… 

Continuing with our little game of Clue, there is Ashey Thompson as Countess Andrenyi, whose key role seemed to be beautiful – a role she portrayed with apparent ease — while her real identity was kept hidden from Hercule Poirot. Charlene Hong White takes on the role of the governess, Mary Debenham – another, like Greta Ohlsson, who seems to have a lot of secrets. Poirot noted Mary with suspicion while in the hotel, before ever boarding the train or becoming aware of a murder. Both White and Fletcher are masterful at playing innocent while letting us know they are hiding something just beneath the surface of their cool, beautiful exteriors. 

Nathan Whitmer is stalwart and blustering in the role of English military officer Colonel Arbuthnot. Arbuthnot isn’t too good at hiding his relationship with Mary Debenham, but Whitmer looks great in a kilt. Travis Williams plays the all-important role of Michel, the Conductor – the man who has access to all the train’s compartments, and perhaps access to an extra conductor’s uniform… 

So, there you have it, the backgrounds of the passengers and other cast members. A diagram of how they are connected would further help keep everybody straight, but would definitely be a spoiler, so you’re on your own for that.  

This high-powered, heavy weight ensemble took us on a most delightful journey that hit most of the elements of a great murder mystery. There was a compelling, locked-door murder. There was an intriguing setting – a train stuck on the tracks far from help, during a major snowstorm. Not only could the train not move, but communications were also lost with dispatchers. There was a victim, and a crime a murder method, and nearly a dozen suspects, with opportunity and hidden motives. A world class detective just happened to be on board, to investigate the clues and red herrings left to misdirect the audience. 

What makes this story even more intereting is the moral dilemma posed near the end. Is murder ever okay? Is there ever a time when, in the words of several fictional and real-life characters, “sometimes the som’bitch needed killin’?” Pack your bags, pick up a drink before boarding, and go find out for yourself. Let me know what you decide. 

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Julinda D. Lewis is a dancer, teacher, and writer who was born in Brooklyn, NY and now lives in Eastern Henrico County. When not writing about theater, she teaches dance history at VCU and low impact dance fitness classes to seasoned movers like herself and occasionally performs. Julinda was recently awarded the Dean’s Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award 2023-24 Academic Year by VCU School of the Arts and the 2025 Pioneer Award in Dance Ministry by Transformation International Worship Ministries, Newport News, VA. 

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AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS 

Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig 

Directed by Rick Hammerly 

Cast 

Lawrence Redmond ….. Hercule Poirot 

Frank Britton ….. Monsieur Bouc / u/s Poirot 

McLean Fletcher ….. Greta Ohlsson /u/s Princess Dragomiroff 

Jan Guarino ….. Princess Dragomiroff 

John-Michael Jalonen ….. Head Waiter / u/s MacQueen, u/s Michel 

Matt Meixler ….. Hector MacQueen 

Susan Sanford ….. Helen Hubbard 

Ashley Thompson ….. Countess Andrenyi 

Charlene Hong White ….. Mary Debenham 

Nathan Whitmer ….. Colonel Arbuthnot / Samuel Ratchett 

Travis Williams ….. Michel the Conductor / u/s Arbuthnot, u/s Ratchett 

Rachel Dilliplane ….. u/s Mary, u/s Countess 

Lily Marcheschi ….. u/s Greta Ohlsson, u/s Helen Hubbard 

Mark Persinger ….. u/s Monsieur Bouc, u/s Head Waiter 

Recorded Voices ….. Frederic Blasco, Rachel Dilliplane, Emily Goodman, Lily Marcheschi, Mark Persinger, Guy Seigneuric, Travis Williams 

Direction & Design 

Directed by ….. Rick Hammerly 

Scenic Design ….. Chris Raintree 

Projection Design ….. Tennessee Dixon 

Costume Design ….. Kendra Rai 

Wig Design ….. Alia Radabaugh 

Lighting Design ….. BJ Wilkinson 

Dialects ….. Amanda Durst 

Sound Design ….. Joey Luck 

Fight & Intimacy Direction ….. Casey Kaleba 

Stage Management ….. Ginnie Willard 

For This Production 

Assistant Stage Manager ….. Hannah Hoffert 

Rehearsal Stage Manager ….. Justin Janke 

Assistant Lighting Designer ….. Griffin Hardy 

Carpenters …..Van Montes, Avery Rose 

Scenic Artists ….. Julie Gallager, Van Montes 

Electricians ….. Rylie Vann, Griffin Hardy 

Stitchers ….. Sarah Grady, Kate Koyiades, Maggie Ronck 

Fly Rail and Deck Crew ….. Daryus Gazder, Logan Graves, Bien Quiroz 

Light Board Operator ….. Rylie Vann 

Sound Board Operator ….. Amaya “AJ” Rose 

Wardrobe Supervisor ….. Emily Andrew Mateos 

Video Production ….. Tennessee Dixon, Rick Hammerly, Hannah Hoffert, Joey Luck, Hans Paul, Jonathan Pratt, Ginnie Willard, Kacey Yachuw 

Photographer ……………………… Aaron Sutten 

Ticket Information 

Box Office: (804) 282-2620 

www.virginiarep.org 

Ticket Prices: $35 – $62 

Performance Schedule 

September 11 – October 12, 2023, with performances 

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:00 PM, select Saturdays at 2PM, Sundays at 3PM, and select Wednesday evenings and matinees. 

Run Time 

The play runs for approximately 2 hours with one 15-minute intermission 

World Premiere produced by the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University, August 2, 2015 

Originally Staged by McCarter Theater Center, Princeton, NJ 

Photo Credits: Aaron Sutten